food IS a theme park
If you’re planning to celebrate the holiday season at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom this year, we’ve got everything you need to make the most of this jolly holiday party!
Holiday Decorations on Main Street, USA!
remains in full effect at Disneyland Resort — and the party continues through September 3! So there’s plenty of time to get in on all the Pixar Food action!
Pixar Fest ©Disney
UPDATED: So this is a pretty big deal in Magic Kingdom! Festival of Fantasy Parade’s Maleficent float caught fire today during the show! See details here!
This week in What’s New, we’ve visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Disney Springs — and now it’s time to journey to the Magic Kingdom! We’ve got a few menu updates, some terrific merchandise, and a few extras! Jump on board our magic carpet, and let’s goooooo!
Main Street, U.S.A., Train Station
It’s a universal truth: Mom is the BEST. She does ALL the things. Running and waiting. Cooking and cleaning. Kissing away ouchies and cheering you on at your basketball game. And you totally forgot to get her something for Mother’s Day, didn’t you? ;-D
For all the hats she wears and for the hundreds of ways that she makes life better every single day, we’re honoring all the moms this weekend with our DFB Mother’s Day Sale!
This weekend, get 40% off when you purchase any DFB Guide E-Book Bundle, then forward the books on to Mom so she can start planning her super fun Disney vacation (or, if you ARE Mom, send the kids out to play and start planning YOUR super fun Dsiney vacation)! Use code MICKEYMOM for the discount!
We often hear from readers who want to know if DFB’s favorites of yore have still got IT.
You know what we mean: do they still have the mojo that keeps guests coming back year after year. For some restaurants at Walt Disney World, it’s killer food and a seasonal, ever-changing menu that draws in a crowd. For others, it’s an atmosphere that can’t be beat — like ‘Ohana‘s warm family feel or Sanaa‘s animal friends right outside the window.
For Beaches & Cream, it’s a sense of nostalgia paired with comforting eats that have been consistently good since the soda shop opened its doors almost thirty years ago. (Let’s just table that thirty years ago bit because there’s no way we’re that old…)
Beaches & Cream is tucked in between the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts on an outdoor walkway adjacent to Stormalong Bay — the fabulous pool shared by the resorts. That means Beaches and Cream is in the Epcot Resort Area (and just a stone’s throw from the International Gateway that serves as an entrance to Epcot’s World Showcase). This convenient location means that even guests not staying at the Resorts will make the short trip to this casual table service location for a bite to eat.
But you (and I!) wanted to know: does Beaches & Cream still have IT?
Beaches and Cream
You love your mom, and she loves Walt Disney World. So why not treat her to a delicious Mother’s Day Brunch at Walt Disney World? There are several locations to take Mom on her special day — just make an Advance Dining Reservation and prepare to be Mom’s new favorite!
Cinderella Castle
Welcome back to another installment of What’s New! This time we’re at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where there’s a whole lotta new we won’t get to see until June 30 when Toy Story Land opens! But in the meantime, we’ve got the skinny on menu changes, pop-up bars, and merchandise that just might tide us over until Woody welcomes the gang to his new land (and opens his lunchbox)!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sweet Spells closed a couple of weeks ago
, and let’s just say that almost no one was happy about it. Where would we get our sweets? What would happen to the spells? (Okay, maybe we’re just worried about the carbohydrates…) And while we haven’t seen any of the Sweet Spells-specific food items shift over to Trolley Car Cafe, we’re glad that Sweet Spells favorites like the Carrot Cake Cookie, Napoleon, Danish, and Candy Brownie have all remained at Trolley Car.
Trolley Car Cafe Treats
So while we hear you, lovers of treats who don’t want to wait in that Starbucks line, we’re still relieved that the Carrot Cake Cookie and these beautiful treats are still nearby! But note that the carrot cake cookie has had a bit of a makeover — the cake part is now pretty thick and serious, so it’s more like a round cake versus a whoopie pie.
Trolley Car Cafe Treats
Guests can also pick up a Tale As Old As Time Cupcake at Trolley Car right now, and it sounds lovely. Vanilla cake, raspberry filling, white buttercream (which is actually yellow…maybe they meant to put “vanilla buttercream”?). Classic and sweet.
Tale As Old As Time Cupcake
The Tale As Old As Time Cupcake features some details from Beauty and the Beast, including red roses, yellow frosting, and Belle and her prince in white chocolate form.
Tale As Old As Time Cupcake at Trolley Car Cafe
If the heat of late spring and impending summer have got you down at Hollywood Studios, there are a couple of great pop-up bars to fuel your adventures. Sunshine Day Cafe Pop-Up Bar is conveniently located on Sunset Boulevard, and is serving up wine, beer, and a couple of specialty drinks.
Sunshine Day Pop Up Bar
Sunshine Day Pop Up Bar
We have previously seen Baby Blues and Green Screen elsewhere in Hollywood Studios, but those bright colors suck us in every time.
Sunshine Day Cafe Pop Up Bar
If you’re in Echo Lake, you’ll find the Echo Lake Pop-Up Bar with specialty cocktails and wine.
Echo Lake Pop Up Bar Menu
At Fairfax Fare and Rosie’s All-American Cafe, Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon Lemonade has replaced Jim Beam Black Cherry Lemonade.
Fairfax Fare and Rosie’s All-American Cafe Drinks
In the world of desserts, Backlot Express now offers BB-9E and Kylo Ren Cupcakes instead of BB-8 and Darth Vader Cupcakes.
Backlot Express Desserts
And the missing menu boards at ABC Commissary have been replaced with digital menu boards, just as predicted.
ABC Commissary New Menu Boards
KRNR Station is now serving up nachos!
KRNR Station now has nachos!
And a super yummy-looking S’mores Brownie has appeared at Dockside Diner. We definitely want to get into that!
Dockside Diner S’mores Brownie
Merchandise at Hollywood Studios is exciting this week! For starters, guests can purchase ties with character at various locations in the park, including the Orange Bird, Haunted Mansion, and Monorail designs! These have been around for a while and aren’t “new,” but they’re still super fun!
Orange Bird Tie
Haunted Mansion and Monorail Ties
And if you get the Tiki Room Tie, we beg of you: please request it as the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Tie.
Tiki Room Tie
Also available are a couple of elaborate Minnie Ear designs. Belle is loaded with detail!
Belle Minnie Ears
As is the Cheshire Cat, whose tail curls around one ear!
Cheshire Cat Minnie Ears
We have a thing for the VHS Notebooks that have been available for a couple of years, and now we can get our VHS-loving fingers on The Little Mermaid, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, and Dumbo!
VHS Notebooks!
The biggest news in merchandise is happening at the former Sweet Spells location, which is now a Pixar merchandise location — Tinseltown Trinkets and Reel Vogue!
Sweet Spells is now Pixar Merchandise Shop
Inside the store portion of the old location there’s lots of merch to peruse, as well as some packaged sweets like cotton candy and massive lollipops.
Sweet Spells’ New Look
Sweet Spells’ New Look
The promised Pixar merchandise is actually very sweet, including these Up!-inspired couples’ tees!
She’s My Greatest Adventure
He’s My Greatest Adventure
Mike and Sully get some love with Monsters, Inc./University-inspired gear.
The Overachiever Monsters Tee
The Natural Monsters Tee
This tote ain’t subtle, but it’s fun!
Roar Your Heart Out Tote
And, well, if you’ve been in the market for a plush Sully tail, we say why? But also: you can find yours here!
Sully Tail
But, oooooooh! You knew there had to be Toy Story merchandise! This tank celebrates the little green guys!
Oooooh! Tank
And this hoodie is colorful and playful.
Toy Story Hoodie
Meanwhile, we’re totally into this Squad Goals tote. What other squad could a Disney fan need?!
Squad Goals! Tote
If MagicBands are your thing, you’ll definitely want to check this out: a Toy Story MagicBand!
Toy Story MagicBand
Toy Story MagicBand
Toy Story MagicBand
That’s it for now from Disney’s Hollywood Studios! You know we’ll be back with more What’s New — so stick with the DFB crew!
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Which of the new DHS tidbits are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments!
With the 2018 Disney Dining Plan including alcoholic and specialty non-alcoholic beverages, it’s more difficult than ever to figure out where to go to make the most of your DDP.
Picture this: You have an Advance Dining Reservation at Polynesian Village Resort’s ‘Ohana, but you’ve just finished getting your swim on at Animal Kingdom Lodge. How do you get from point A to point B?
You could use Disney transportation, which would entail a lengthy bus ride from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Magic Kingdom, then a transfer to either the Resort Monorail Loop or the boat to the Poly.
Catch that Monorail!
But what if one or more of these modes of transportation is delayed? What about the meats?! How will you get your Lapu Lapu?! The ‘Ohana Bread Pudding is slipping through your fingers!
is in full swing at Disneyland Resort — and they’ve got the eats to prove it! 😉 We are so ready for this festival of friendship and all of our favorite Pixar pals (not to mention the Fest-worthy treats!).
Pixar Fest Kicks off on FRIDAY!! ©Disney
Today we’re bringing you a fun churro option — one of many churros available during Pixar Fest! The Carrot Cake Churro is located at the churro cart across from the Haunted Mansion — so scare up one of these ASAP!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
